Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-12-20
THE MARY HALL HOUSE,.


Wm2S tDe Deetf1ct CO0mtoot0m0fB Say.
rHs MAfrKR LEFT IN THE HANDS or TIE SCHOOL
rRUsrEns-A LETTER FROM ONE OF THKx-wpAr
| THH BUILDING INSPECTOR SAYS
The District Commissioners said to-day, in
relation to the controversy over the Mary
Hall building, that the matter Is purely
| under the control Of the board Of school
trustees. They said that It has always been
the custom OF the Commissioners 70 leave che
selection OF the locations Of the public-school
houses to the discretion OF the board because they
are supposed TO practically Know the needs OF the
people, and therefore the Commissioners do not
see why tn this instance they should be called
upon to depart from this method or to interfere
with the weil-conEdered action OF that body,
Speaking OF
THE ORIGIN OF THE PRESENT CONTROVERSY,
the Commissioners stated that when Supt COOK re-
commended the renting Of the Miller building, on
street between 9th and 7th streets northwest,
Ior the purpose OF accommodating the Colored In
the Bannecker and John F. Cook schools, the Com
missioners referredi to the board OF trustees At
oson from ts seey ,ns
cns Miller Building against its use as
prostate the value Of sSeir property STss ana
furthermore, that II the schools were placed
there they would not be accessible to that part OF
colored population. The trustees investigated the
matter and found that the Miller building was In
poor sanitary condition. which could not be very
well improved; that IL WAS too small, and also
mat the small amount OF the Appropriation for the
maintenance OF the Industrial Training schools In
the District would not warrant the expenditure OF
the amount necessary to rent the building AT
this 1uncture, it Is stated Mrs. Stroud the agent
OF the Miner fund for the education and
District Commissioners that the trustees OF the
fund had purchased the Mary Han building, ON the
corner c OF ~ street and Maryland avenue south,
rental Mrs Stroud stated that she had already
established in the building kindergarten school,
under competent Teachers a hospital containing
accommodations for four patients, and free dis.
penSary; all these
FOR TIE ENTIRE BENEFIT OF THE coLoRRD PEOPLE.
As In the case OF the Miller building, the COM
missiOners referred Mrs Strouds offer the board
OF trustees, who. after thoroughly In
vestigatng the matter, reported that 1t
was splendidly adapted for the purposes
mentioned, was large, suitably located, healthy,
&c: In view Of these considerations and In view
VI the TACT that the rent Obtained for the building
would be used by the trustees Of the Miner fund
Tor the beneft OF the cOlOred youth, the trustees
recommended the acceptance OF Mrs. S.roud's
proposition. Before the matter was concluded OBJ
1ecuons were died with the board OF trustees ana
petition asking their reconsideration OF the mat
ter. This was done at the last meeting night and
the trustees voted TO establish the cOlored cooking
school and the carpenter shops IN the Hall build
Ing, leaving the selection or a suitable place for
surplus TO Trustees Francis and Cornish.
Whether inadvertently or not, Mr. Francis had al
ready decided In favor OF the Hail building as he
had cast his vote in favor OF it with the other trus
tees. To further compiIcate the matter the Com
mlSs1Oners to-day received the following
LETTER FROM TRUSTEE CORNISH
dated December 10: "Gentlemen-I have the
honor to hereby submit that the crowded condition
OF our school buildings having rendered 1t neces-
s2ry rrOn sanitary point OF view, without refer
ence 10 other important considerations) TO have
adutlOnal SCHOOL room, the board or trustees at
tuelr last meeting authorized me to select a
building suitable Ior school purposes. Upon care
ful investigation OF the matter ind thai the Mil
Ter Building Is The most eli ibie, besides being the
only suitable building in that locality which We
are able TO rent. / therefore respectfully recon-
mend the selection Of the Miller Building, and
trust that this recommendation may meet with
your concurrence"
The commissioners will refer this letter to the
board for us consideration, they do not propose
U De brought INTO the controversy.
WHAT THE BUILDING INSPECTOR SAYS.
Building Inspector Entwisle to-day said to THE
STAR reporter that the statement made by ex-
Trustee johnson, last night, at the mass-meeting
at EOenezer Hall, about the delay In completing
the colored school houses, Is Incorrect. MIR. En-
twisle said that the Giddings colored school was
ana that la the case or tue sumner annex the
delay VAS caused BY the contractor, who did not
pr srly execute his contract In the latter case
The COMMISSIONERS have not yet paid the contrac-
tor for his work, although the building was I'M
lshed two weeks ago,